Zheng Xingxuan led his guards to stand in front of the corridor to prevent all idle people from approaching Chengyun Hall.
In the main hall, Shen Yang, Chen De, Zheng Chang, Zheng Yu, Zhou Yuan, Zheng Hui, Gao Chengyuan, Guo Liang, Han Daoming, Jiang Huo, Li Chong, Chun Shisanniang, and Lu Qingchen waited on the concubine Wang Chaner and sat down behind the curtain. After that, they are all core figures in Yueyang City who have access to the most confidential affairs.
And Yang Yuanpu summoned everyone to discuss a possibility related to Yueyang and the country of Chu.
That is the possibility that Gu Zhilong, the governor of Xuanzhou, was recruited by Yue Yang.
Xuanzhou is located between Fuyu Mountain and Yishan Mountain, with Shezhou to the south.
Starting from Shezhou and heading west via the Yishan Ancient Post Road, you will reach Raozhou.
It goes down the Xinchang River from Raozhou and crosses the Gan River to Hongzhou.
Starting from Hongzhou and passing through Yuanzhou, it is the southern route Hengzhou directly controlled by Hunan Xingshangshu Province.
Currently, Hongzhou and Yuanzhou are under the control of Yuzhang County Prince and Hongzhou Governor Yang Zhitang.
As for Shezhou and Raozhou, they are located in the Yishan Mountains east of Poyang Lake. They are in a remote and sparsely populated area. In the territory of Dachu, their status is slightly lower than that of Jisuzhou, such as Chenxuzhou, which is remote and not facing major enemies. On the higher side, among the local officials and aristocratic families, no one has shown an obvious tendency after the Jinling Incident.
Of course, no one cares about the reactions of Raozhou and Shezhou for the time being.
If Gu Zhilong can recruit Yueyang, the Chishan Army, the Qiuhu Army and the Xuanzhou Army can join forces, it will not only temporarily relieve the Chishan Army and the Qiuhu Army's current shortage of supplies such as food, fodder, and soldiers, but also make the southern line of Jinling loyal to the army. Yueyang's military strength increased to about 60,000 people, and under the pressure of such a strong force, Shezhou to the south and Raozhou to the west of Shezhou will also be determined by propaganda.
Yang Zhitang is also a descendant of the clan, and is a cousin of Prince Yang Yuanwo, King Xin Yang Yuanyan, and Tanzhou Yang Yuanpu. No matter who he supports to ascend the throne, he will not feel any psychological pressure.
And Yang Zhitang only controls Hong and Yuanzhou, and has less than 20,000 soldiers and horses. Since the princes and counties in eastern Zhejiang are almost openly serving Yueyang, he must not have any inappropriate ambitions.
Wouldn't it mean that the overland route from Hengzhou to Xuanzhou, which spans more than a thousand miles, has been opened?
At this point, do they still need to worry about Zhang Wei in Jingzhou and Du Chongtao in Xiangzhou still standing on the fence and watching?
This is also a possibility that Han Qian mentioned in the secret letter sent back to Yueyang.
After receiving a secret message from Han Qian yesterday, Yang Yuanpu stayed awake all night. He first deduced the development of the situation in the middle of the night with Jiang Huo and Qingyang. At dawn, he couldn't help but send someone to directly invite Shen Yang in. The palace discussed the matter.
In the early morning, more people were summoned to the Chengyun Hall to discuss matters. It was almost noon, and Yang Yuanpu was in an extremely excited state, with no sleep at all.
The Chuzhou Army won a great victory at Jingshan Nunnery, and King Xin Yang Yuanyan showed his dazzling bravery and military talent. The atmosphere in Yueyang was extremely gloomy for a time - he was eager to transfer Li Zhigao to Ezhou, although Yang Yuanpu and others had some careful thoughts, and even The main concern is that the Chuzhou Army's advance in Jiangdong is too fast and too sudden, so we need to prepare in advance on the eastern front.
Han Qian went to Jinling without permission and took away the military power from Li Pu, the Marquis of Xinchang. Yang Yuanpu recognized this, but he was not happy at all.
After all, for a man who is only eighteen years old and should be very high-spirited at this time, no matter how much respect he has for Han Qian in his heart, and no matter how much his childhood in palace confinement has taught him to learn to be tolerant, he still hopes that his will will override Han Qian's. above others.
After that, the situation in Jinling changed unpredictably. Yang Yuanpu's mind went up and down, but he could never find the calmness and confidence that he could hold his hand in the world's situation, and his temper became somewhat anxious and irritable.
But what if Gu Zhilong can really be used by Yueyang?
Yang Yuanpu stared at His Highnesses with piercing eyes. His face, which was slightly pale after not sleeping all night, was flushed with excitement.
"In his early years, Gu Zhilong served as a general in the Jiedu Envoy in Shengzhou. My father secretly said that he would surrender and join the late emperor, but he was tactful. He did not send troops to attack the Chishan Army, but he may not be willing to move all his chips to Yueyang at this time.
?" Han Daoming had several contacts with Gu Zhilong. He had read the secret letters sent by Han Qian, and always felt that Han Qian's judgment on Gu Zhilong and Xuanzhou was too optimistic.
If Yueyang captured Jiangzhou at this time, and also brought over Yuzhang County Prince Yang Zhitang's 20,000 troops and Hong and Yuan Erzhou, he believed that Gu Zhilong might be able to take advantage of the situation and add icing on the cake.
However, even if they can now open up the narrow land route from Hengzhou to Xuanzhou, which is sandwiched between barren mountains and rivers, it does not mean much.
The elite combat forces they can mobilize, the Dragon Bird Army and the Five Tooth Army, are still stationed in Yueyang and Ezhou on the south bank of the Yangtze River, across Jiangchi and other states from Jinling.
As for the Wuya Army's initial creation, its surface combat capability was weaker than that of the Tower Ship Army that had joined the An Ning Palace.
In Han Daoming's opinion, even if Gu Zhilong surrendered, their chances of defeating Anning Palace and the Chuzhou Army in a short period of time would not exceed 40%.
In this case, would Gu Zhilong risk his life and fortune?
"Master Han's judgment on Xuanzhou and Gu Zhilong in Jinling should be more direct and accurate than ours. In any case, it is still worth a try!" Zhang Chao, the chief of the execution department, said according to the case.
Zhang Chaonai is the head of the Zhang family and the elder brother of Zhang Han, the governor of Hengzhou.
During the vassal reduction war, Zhang Chao and Zhang Han led aristocratic families in the northern part of Langzhou and five thousand rural soldiers to surrender, and made great contributions to the rapid suppression of the Ma family's rebellion. They and Zhang Han were representatives of local surrender forces in Hunan.
Gao Long and Miao Yong, as surrendered generals, are currently serving as Du Yuhou under Chai Jian. However, they are too deeply involved with the Ma family, and their local influence at this time is far from being comparable to that of the Zhang family.
At this time, Zhang Chao served as the Minister of Execution.
Han Qian recruited slaves to join the army in Jinling and promised to grant land. As the head of the Zhang family who owned a large number of slaves and fields in Langzhou, it can be said that Zhang Chao's dislike of Han Qian was not inferior to that of the Zheng family.
However, in the face of the temptation of greater interests, people's attitudes will always undergo some subtle changes.
Zhang Chao's words also represent the voices of most people present. Suddenly, they felt that Han Qian was not that hateful, and this matter was completely worth a try. If Gu Zhilong could not be persuaded to join him at this time, what would Yueyang lose?
Han Daoming looked at the expressions of everyone around him and knew that the next discussion should be on how to recruit, not whether to recruit.
"Since it was Mr. Han who persuaded Gu Zhilong to be used by the late emperor, Mr. Han may need to personally take action in this matter." Zheng Yu, the privy envoy to the line, thought about it.
"My father..." Thinking that his father Han Wenhuan was already seventy-six and might not be able to withstand the torment of the journey, Han Daoming wanted to reject the matter for his father, but then he thought that if his father did not take action, he would have to
He personally sneaked to Jinling to meet Han Qian's son, but he kept silent.
"Gu Zhilong is willing to be used by Yueyang. In terms of merit, he should be rewarded by the Duke of the country. His descendants will inherit the hereditary throne. Except for the crime of treason, all other sins will be forgiven!" Yang Yuanpu held down the armrest and said excitedly, knowing that at this critical moment, You can't be stingy, you have to offer enough chips to make Gu Zhilong's heart beat in order to make this happen.
"I don't know when the situation in the Liang Kingdom will settle down. This matter should be done sooner rather than later. Everything has to be done hard for Mr. Han to suffer from the upheaval." Zheng Yu bowed his hand to Han Daoming, wishing he could persuade Yang Yuanpu to summon Han Wenhuan to the Chengyun Hall for an interview now. friendship.
"I will go back home and talk to my father about this." Han Daoming agreed.
"Mr. Han is old, maybe it would be more prudent to ask Mr. Han Daochang to accompany you." Shen Yang was still holding the secret letter sent by Han Qian in his hand to think about it, but at this time, seeing that everyone was inclined to reward Gu Zhilong with generous rewards, he After hesitating for a while, he said.
It was not that he had never thought of suggesting that Han Daoming accompany him, but Han Daoming left Xuanzhou very early to serve as an official abroad.
In comparison, Han Daochang, who stayed in Xuanzhou all year round to preside over the affairs of the Han clan, was more familiar with Gu Zhilong and other local figures in Xuanzhou and had deeper friendships, so he suggested that Han Daochang accompany Han Wenhuan.
Of course, Han Daochang's rank is slightly lower and he was not summoned to Chengyun Hall to participate in the discussion today.
"As for those many things, I would like to trouble Mr. Shen to accompany Mr. Han to Mr. Han and explain them to Mr. and Mrs. Han." Yang Yuanpu said.
It is still unknown whether it will be possible at this time, but if he directly summons Han Wenhuan, who has been serving in seclusion for many years, to the palace to discuss matters, it will be easy for Anning Palace and Chuzhou's informants lurking in Yueyang to spot the flaw, and Shen Yang will accompany Han Daoming to the Han Palace on his behalf. Many things need to be arranged more securely.
Shen Yang did not refuse and looked at Jiang Huo again. How to get through the blockade of Jiangchi and Chizhou and send Han Wenhuan and Han Daochang to Jinling to meet Han Qian and the others as quickly as possible would require Jiang Huo and Ji Jinyun Tower will make more specific arrangements.
…………
…………
Han Jun was originally on duty at the Cishou Palace today, but it was Lu Qingchen and Chun Shisanniang who accompanied the concubine Wang back from the Chengyun Palace, and only then did he know what the reason for the mobilization of troops today was.
He ignored the concubine's charming look and asked him to stay on duty at Cishou Palace at night, so he immediately took leave of absence from Cishou Palace and returned to his home.
Han Daoming took Shen Yang home to discuss secret matters in the name of a family dinner.
Han Jun hurried back, and besides his grandfather Han Wenhuan, his father Han Daoming, his second uncle Han Daochang and his cousin Han Duan, there was only Shen Yang in the Mingju Hall.
Not to mention the corridor, no idle people were allowed to come and go in the courtyard. Han Chengmeng personally led the people to guard outside the courtyard.
"I will escort my grandfather and second uncle to Jinling." Han Jun said happily as he entered the Mingju Hall from the hand corridor.
"You are on duty in front of the concubine. You have a heavy responsibility. How can you walk away casually?" Han Daoming frowned slightly and said.
"There must be someone who is more familiar with Xuanzhou to protect my grandfather and second uncle. For this matter, the concubine will allow me to take a few days off and not be around to serve." Han Jun said.
Gu Zhilong is a slippery person. As long as they can reach Xuanzhou smoothly, even if they cannot persuade Gu Zhilong to defect to Yueyang, there will be no danger - of course, if he does not dare to take risks at all, will he be ridden by Han Qian in his life? Shit and pee on your neck?
He is currently serving as the deputy commander of the Cishou Palace Protectorate. His position is higher than that of Deputy Yuhou, and he can be regarded as entering the ranks of middle and senior generals. However, he knows in his heart that he can hold this position only because the Han family escorts the concubine back home. Yueyang came from the Zheng family and the Xinchang Marquis Mansion, but not many people recognized his abilities and talents, let alone compared with Han Qian.
He was unwilling to give up and did not want to miss the only opportunity he had to make a great contribution.
Otherwise, when will he be able to stand alone?
Han Daoming looked at Shen Yang; Shen Yang was of course noncommittal.